From Brandeis University Athletics
Rookie Joanna Murphy (Sarasota, Fla./Riverview High School) set two new records at the University Athletic Association Swimming & Diving Championships this weekend. Murphy broke records in the 500-yard and 1650-yard races, two of several impressive results for the Judges.
The women's team finished in eighth place overall with 269 points, 57 more points than they scored last year.
The UAA Championships were altered this year because weather prevented several teams from reaching Atlanta, where Emory hosted. A satellite meet was held at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio for Case, the University of Chicago and the University of Rochester.
In her first individual event, Murphy obliterated a nine-year old record in the 500. She swam a 5:10.17 in the preliminary run, easily surpassing Sharon Makowsky's '06 mark of 5:14.51. Murphy was even better in the final, finishing in 5:04.95. She finished 12thoverall, good for fourth in the "B" final.
Murphy was possibly even more impressive in the 1650, shattering a 15-year old record by more than 17 seconds. She timed in at 17:38.05 in the mile, good for seventh place overall. It was also an NCAA B Standard time.
Murphy's final individual event was the 200 freestyle, where she finished 20th overall.
The women's team had four other competitors at the meet. Sophomore Theresa Gaffney (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) had the best result of the group, finishing 21st in the mile with a time of 19:31.86. Gaffney also placed 29th in the 200 breaststroke and 35th in the 100 freestyle. All three of those times were her fastest of the year.
Sophomore Fay Laborio (Cranston, R.I./Cranston West) finished 26th in both the 100 and 200 backstroke. She just missed the cutoff for the "C" Final, which takes finishers 17-24. Laborio swam the 100 in 1:07.81, a new career-best. She finished the 200 in 2:21.47 and also placed 43rd in the 200 individual medley.
Classmate Fallon Bushee (Malden, Mass./Mystic Valley Regional Charter Sch.) placed 26th in the 100-yard breaststroke. Her time of 1:14.24 was less than one second off of a "C" Final-qualifying time. Bushee placed 35th and 36th in the 100 free and 50 free with times of 56.16 and 25.68, respectively. All three times were new career-bests, as well as the top time by any Brandeis swimmer in those events this year.
Rookie Margo Farnet (Fayetteville, Ga./Our Lady of Mercy Catholic) also swam the sprint freestyle events. She placed 44th in the 50-yard, then grabbed 37th in the 100, both lifetime bests.